The Return of Peter Grimm | Page 8

a
Colonial ancestor, gives a quaint touch, to the picture. Although
PETER GRIMM is a very wealthy man, he lives as simply as his
ancestors.
As the curtain is raised, the room is empty; but CATHERINE is heard
singing in the dining-room. JAMES HARTMAN, PETER'S secretary,
opens his door to listen, a small bundle of letters in his hand. He is a
well set up young man, rather blunt in his manner, and a trifle careless
in his dress. After a pause, he goes back into the office, leaving the
door ajar. Presently CATHERINE enters. In spite of her youth and
girlish appearance, she is a good, thrifty housekeeper. She wears a
simple summer gown, and carries a bunch of gay tulips and an old
silver pitcher, from which she presently pours water into the Harlequin
Delft vase on PETER GRIMM'S desk. She peeps into the office,
retreating, with a smile on her lips, as JAMES appears.
CATHERINE. Did I disturb you, James?
JAMES. [On the threshold.] No indeed.
CATHERINE. Do you like your new work?
JAMES. Anything to get back to the gardens, Catherine. I've always
done outside work and I prefer it; but I would shovel dirt rather than
work for any one else.
CATHERINE. [Amused.] James!

JAMES. It's true. When the train reached the Junction, and a boy
presented the passengers with the usual flower and the "compliments of
Peter Grimm"--it took me back to the time when that was my job; and
when I saw the old sign, "Grimm's Botanic Gardens and Nurseries"--I
wanted to jump off the train and run through the grounds. It seemed as
though every tulip called "hello" to me.
CATHERINE. Too bad you left college! You had only one more year.
JAMES. Poor father! He's very much disappointed. Father has worked
in the dirt in overalls--a gardener--all his life; and, of course, he
over-estimates an education. He's far more intelligent than most of our
college professors.
CATHERINE. I understand why you came back. You simply must live
where things grow, mustn't you, James? So must I. Have you seen our
orchids?
JAMES. Orchids are pretty; but they're doing wonderful things with
potatoes these days. I'd rather improve the breed of a squash than to
have an orchid named after me. Wonderful discovery of Luther
Burbank's-- creating an edible cactus. Sometimes I feel bitter thinking
what I might have done with vegetables, when I was wasting time
studying Greek.
CATHERINE. [Changing suddenly.] James: why don't you try to please
Uncle Peter Grimm?
JAMES. I do; but he is always asking my opinion, and when I give it, he
blows up.
CATHERINE. [Coaxingly.] Don't be quite so blunt. Try to be like one
of the family.
JAMES. I'm afraid I shall never be like one of this family.
CATHERINE. Why not? I'm no relation at all; and yet--

JAMES. [Making a resolution.] I'll do my best to agree with him.
[Offering his hand.] It's a promise. [They shake hands.
CATHERINE. Thank you, James.
JAMES. [Still holding her hand.] It's good to be back, Catherine. It's
good to see you again.
He is still holding her hand when FREDERIK GRIMM enters. He is the
son of PETER'S dead sister, and has been educated by PETER to carry
on his work. He is a graduate of Amsterdam College, Holland, and, in
appearance and manner, suggests the foreign student. He has managed
to pull through college creditably, making a specialty of botany.
PETER has given him the usual trip through Europe, and FREDERIK
has come to his rich uncle to settle down and learn his business. He has
been an inmate of the household for a few months. He poses as a most
industrious young man, but is, at heart, a shirker.
FREDERIK. Where's Uncle?
JAMES. Good-morning, Frederik. Your uncle's watching father spray
the plum trees. The black knot's after them again.
FREDERIK. I can hardly keep my eyes open. Uncle wakes me up every
morning at five--creaking down the old stairs. [Eyeing CATHERINE
admiringly.] You're looking uncommonly pretty this morning, Kitty.
[CATHERINE edges away and runs upstairs to her room.
FREDERIK. Hartman!
JAMES. Yes?
FREDERIK. Miss Catherine and you and I are no longer children--our
positions are altered--please remember that. I'm no longer a student
home for the holidays from Amsterdam College. I'm here to learn the
business which I am expected to carry on. Miss Catherine is a young
lady now, and my uncle looks upon her as his daughter. You are here
as my uncle's secretary. That's how we three stand in this house. Don't

call me "Frederik," and hereafter be good enough to say, "Miss
Grimm."
JAMES. [Amiably.] Very well.
FREDERIK. James: there's a good opportunity for a young man like
you in our Florida house. I think that if I spoke for you--
JAMES.